waters



(No Model.,)

E. & G. A. WATERS.

' LIFE PRESERVER.

No. 315,095. Patented Apr. 7. 1

UNITED STATES ELISHA \VATERS AND GEORGE A.

PATENT OFFICE.

\VATERS, OF TROY, NE\V YORK.

Ll FE-PRESERVER.

jPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.315,095, dated April 7, 1885.

'Application filed August 4, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ELISHA WATERS and GEORGE A. WATERS, of Troy, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Life-Preservers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of lifepreservers which are designed to be worn on the person, the aim of the invention being to produce an article which may be manufactured cheaply, which shall be light in weight, which will automatically adjust itself to persons differing in size, and which will be free from liability of disarrangement when in use.

To this end the invention consists, essentially, in the combination of two floats designed to be used one at the chest and the other at the back, connected by adjustable or flexible bearings designed to pass beneath the arms of the user.

It also consists in combining with said floats connections which are adjustable or variable in length.

It also consists in the, connected floats of cylindrical form adapted to be rolled readily into position upon the person of the wearer.

It also consists in the floats constructed of paper, waterproofed, and in the means for protecting the same against abrasion, and in minor features, which will be hereinafter more fully explained.

Life-preservers for individual use have here tofore been constructed in a great variety of forms, and ordinarily of but two classes, the one consist-ing of flexible chambers or floats to be inflated for use, and the other consisting of cork or similar buoyant material contained in an envelope of canvas or its equivalent. Preservers of the first class, owing to their rapid decay and deterioration, and to the liability of the closing-valves to fail when in action, are going rapidly into disuse. Preservers of the second classare objectionable because of their excessive weight, of their cumbrous form, and of the difficulty of adjusting them properly and securely in position upon wearers of difierent sizes during the hurry and excitement which occurs on occasions which-renderltheir use necessary. It is to avoid these difficulties that the present invention is designed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the improved preserver in its most simple and preferred form. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the preserver in a modified form, portions of the same being shown in section to illustrate the details of construction. Fig. 3 represents an end view of the same.

Referring to Fig. l, A A represent two hollow cylindrical floats, preferably of equal size and length, a length of about eleven inches and a diameter of from four to five inches being found to answer an excellent purpose. These floats, which may be constructed of any suitable material, but which are preferably constructed of paper, as hereinafter more fully explained, are arranged parallel with each other and united at their ends by transverse connections B,'which may be of any suitable form and material, of a length sufiicient to pass beneath the arms of the wearer, one float being located at the chest and the other be-' hind the back. These connections are designed to rest beneath the arms and sustain the weight of the user and to retain the'floats in proper position at the front and rear.

WVhen adjusted for use upon a person of definite size, the connections may be rigid; but it is preferred to render them elastic" or extensib1e,in order that they may readily adjust themselves to persons of different sizes.

It is to be noted as a peculiarity of our preserver that the two floats are made of an elongated form,"and that the connections are extended between their extreme ends. This arrangement causes the weight to be carried directly at the ends of the plates, and insures their proper retention in the proper position with respect to the person of the wearer, avoiding those dangers and difficulties which are commonly encountered in the use of floats which are free to change their position.

In Fig. 1 the connections are represented of webbingor equivalentwovenmateria-l of a flexible nature. When thus constructed, it is not essential that they shall be adjusted in length to suit the person of the wearer, inasmuch as their flexibility will admit of their sinking at the middle beneath the weight of the wearer, and thus drawing the two floats snugly into position against the breast and back. The

essence of the invention in this regard consists in connecting two floats, one designed for use at the breast and the other at the back, by connections to pass beneath the arms of the user, and it is manifest that the sectional form of thefloats may be modified as desired. It is preferred, however, to adopt the cylindrical form for various reasons, the principal one being that when the connections are pivoted, as shown, at the center of the floats, the floats may revolve freely, and thus be conveniently rolled into position upon thebody, either over the head or over the feet, and in like manner removed conveniently.

In Fig. 1 the connecting-straps of webbing are represented as being provided with buckles to admit of their length beingincreased or diminished, and as being passed through slots in the ends ofplates D, which are secured to the ends of the floats by'pivots or journals E.

Passing next to the construction represented in Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the floats are similar to those represented in Fig. 1, but that the flexible connecting-straps are replaced by extensible spring-connections. At each end of the device a tube, F, designed to rest beneath the arms of the user, contains a strong spiral spring, G, the ends of which are extended beyond the tube and connected to caps H, which are in turn pivoted to plates or links D, pivoted centrally to the end of the floats. The springs thus applied serve as a connection between the two floats, and tend to draw them toward each other snugly against the person of the user, at the same time permitting them to be separated a sufficient distance to admit of the preserver being applied to persons large in body. As a matter of protection, to prevent the spring from being subjected to excessive strains and to prevent the floats from separating in the event of the fracture of the spring, a strong cord or chain, K, is passed centrally through each spring and secured at its ends to the respective caps H, this string being of suitable length to permit the elongation of the spring to the proper degree. The springs may be secured to the caps in any suitable manner; but it is preferred, as shown in Fig. 2, to recess the caps, insert the spring therein, and insert a central plug, M, which engages within the end of the spring, and which is provided with a threaded neck extending through the rear end of the cap and secured by an external nut, O, thereon. The employment of the links or plates D is preferred, for the reason that it permits the floats to adjust themselves more freely to the person of the wearer; but, if desired, the caps H may be pivoted directly to the ends of the floats, or the ends of the spring otherwise attached to the floats. The tubes or sleeves F serve to prevent the chafing or cutting action of the springs; but they may be pmitted or replaced by a flexible coveringof any suitable character.

It will be observed that the spring and its attachment constitutes in effect the flexible connection between the two floats.

Passing now to the construction of the floats, it is preferred to form them of sheets of paper wound tightly one upon another and united by glue, a solution of rubber, or other appropriate adhesive material, the ends being 00111- posed either of laminated paper in like manner, or of wood or other suitable material inserted into the body.

After being constructed, the paper cylinder is to be treated by waterproofing varnishes, paints, or other coating, to prevent the destructive action of the water thereon. To give them additional strength and to protect them from abrasion, their outer surfaces are usually covered with canvas or other suitable fibrous material,l?, glued or cemented tightly thereon, and finished by a coating of paint, varnish, or other material adapted to resist the action of the water.

As a further means of strengthening the floats and protecting them from injury, we

prefer to encircle the end of each by a metallicband, B, of angular form and cross-section, adapted to bear upon the periphery, and also against the outer or end. face of the cylinder, as shown.

The employment of paper is considered preferable to that of any other known material on account of the cheapness, lightness, and rigidity of the resulting cylinder.

rVe are aware that cylindrical floats are old, and that floats have been united in two groups by means of conducting-straps constituting a harness to be passed over the shoulders and about the body, the harness requiring to be adjusted and fastened each time that the de vice is applied to the body of the user, and to such construction we lay no claim.

It will be noted as a peculiarity of our construction that there are but two floats, and that these floats are of a rigid character, and adapted to extend one across the back and the other across the breast, and that they are united at both extremities by flexible connections designed to remain permanently in place. This construction permits the device to be adjusted instantly in place upon the person ,and avoids the difficulty and danger incident to the application of the usual harness.

p The application of the connections to th two ends of the plates in position to pass beneath the arms of the wearer is highly advantageous, in that it insures the retention of the floats in position, preventing their accidental displacement, and allowing the wearer the free use of his arms for the purposes of propulsion.

The present invention is restricted to those matters and things which are hereinafter claimed, and as to all matters which may be described or shown but which are not claimed the right is reserved to make the same the subject of a separate application.

We are aware that a strap provided'with a buckle and designed for application about the body has been provided also with two small I substantially rectangular floats arranged to slide freely thereon; but by employing elongated floats and connecting them at both extremities with flexible devices we provide a preserver which may be instantly applied, which cannot be displaced, and which may be given sufficient buoyancy to maintain the head of the user well above the surface of the water without interfering in the slightest with the use of his arms.

Having thus described our invent-ion, what we claim is- 1. The improved life-preserver consisting of two rigid elongated floats adapted to extend across the back and chest, respectively, combined with flexible devices connecting said floats permanently at both extremities, and adapted,as described,to pass beneath the arms of the wearer,whereby the preserver is adapted for instantaneous application without special adjustment or connection of its parts, and the floats retained in proper position when in use.

2. In a life-preserver, two rigid elongated cylindrical floats,a a, and two extensible connections, b b, uniting said floats permanently at their two ends, as described and shown.

3. In alife-preserver,the combination of two cylindrical floats and two connections uniting the ends of said floats and pivoted or swiveled thereto, whereby the floats are permitted to revolve in being placed in position upon the person.

4. In a life-preserver, two elongated rigid floats adapted, as described, to extend across the back and chest, respectively, and springconnections, substantially as described, uniting said floats at both ends, whereby the float is adapted for application to persons differing 0 in size without special adjustment, and the floats retained in proper position.

5. In a life-preserver,the combination of the two floats, the plates pivoted to the ends of said floats, and the intermediate springs con 45 necting said floats.

6. In combination with the floats and the connecting-springs, the sleeve or covering F, applied to said spring.

7. In a life-preserver, the combination of 5c the rigid floats, the connecting-springs, and the connectingcords adapted, as described, to limit the extension of the springs and to receive the weight of the user in the event of the breakage of the springs.

8. In combination with the two floats, substantially as described, the plates D, pivoted thereto, the springs, the caps applied to said springs, and a pivotal connection between said caps and the plates.

9. In a life-preserver, the combination of the paper body, the fibrous covering applied thereto, and the rings B,applied, as described, to the ends of said body.

ELISHA WATERS. GEO. A. VATERS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. VINTON WATERs, GEo. S. Wn'rEns. 

